Please consider giving your time and talent for our local section. Feel free to contact any of the current officers to indicate your interest.
Executive Committee Members
Every year we elect members to lead the local Kalamazoo American Chemical Society Section. This includes, chair elect, treasurer, councilor and secretary (every two years).
For a description of each officer’s responsibility see our operations manual.
For anyone interested in learning new leadership skills, networking and providing service to the community this is an excellent opportunity. You may contact any current officer for more information.
Education Committee
This committee serves as an outreach to our public and private secondary education institutions in Allegan, Berrien, Kalamazoo, and Van Buren Counties. We provide an annual high school chemistry exam open to all students and provide awards to high achievers.
Also, outstanding chemistry students and teachers are recognized annually. Volunteers are needed to write the exam, others to administer the test. Others are needed to determine the outstanding student for the year and further additional volunteers help organize the awards and celebration. Time commitments may range from an hour or two for each event to leading the committee throughout the year. This committee partners with the Western Michigan University and K College students who conduct science outreach to students from primary through secondary schools. For more information contact the KACS Chair.
National Chemistry Week (NCW) Committee
This team coordinates our public outreach programs in celebration of National Chemistry Week (October of each year). We usually support a community access TV interview and cosponsor a hands-on Chemistry Day program for youth and their families at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum (KVM).
The Chemistry Day event depends upon excellent help from the KVM staff and dozens of our dedicated ACS members, local teachers and students, who teach and guide participants through the activities on Chemistry Day. The NCW committee gets things started each year and keeps it organized. Contact Lydia Hines for a more detailed list of duties.
Project SEED
Every summer, high school students meeting certain criteria are eligible for Project Seed. Volunteers organize internship programs for student and assure funds are available to support the program.
Anyone interested in nurturing a stronger interest in the sciences from local students will find their time shared rewarding. For more information contact the Project SEED Coordinator.
Recycled Poster Day at Bell’s
This event takes advantage of posters KACS members and college students may have presented at various meetings during the past year. Volunteers are needed to solicit participants and others to organize the social aspect of the event. For more information contact Tomasz Respondek.
Section Archivist
If you are interested in history and like to organize and write, we would love to talk to you about updating our Local Section History (which now goes only through 1981). Contact Lydia Hines to discuss.
Speed Networking
Once a year, the students from Kalamazoo College and Western Michigan University are introduced to mentors who share their experience as practicing chemists, scientist or professionals that chemistry helped guide their careers. This one hour activity allows volunteers to share their key experiences that students find valuable. For more information contact Blakely Tresca.
Various Social Events
Throughout the year, various social events have been planned, whether seminars, beer tasting or live streaming programs. To make each event more welcoming, volunteers are needed to help publicize each event and others to then serve as host and provide light refreshments to all. For more information contact the KACS chair.